The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-09-07
In THE SURF.
BY LILY CURRY TYNER.
Boston Traveller.

The first two weeks Of September are
certainly the finest of all the summer for
ocean bathing. The water has at length
become bearably warm, and the waves,
though running high, run regularly and
with certain evenness that fair swim
mer can comprehend and count upon.
At the resorts along the Jersey coast,
for instance, this season of absolute
water revelry. The beach is peopled
with thousands of figures, happy and
picturesque, or grotesque, as the case
may be. Child, youth, adult, all are
here. The strong swimmer calmly cleav-
ing his way out through the breakers; !;
the timid novice shrinking at each new
burst of salty suds, and the would-be
brave one prancing defiantly knee deep
in the mighty brine, yet clinging des-
perately at the same time TO the life
line.
1t was not long since, at one of these
resorts, heavenly morning, the sky a
dazzle of sun and pale azure; the sea
booming grandly on the white sand, and
all the merry thousands fastening down
to meet it.
Two men and woman left the fourth
Va hhNli BNiNl1 dh NlhClll ldul WIN was
not in bathing costume, as were they,
safely ensconced with chair and book
where the sand was quite dry, and
tripped lightly down to the first thin
edge of the water TO be strictly accu-
rate, but two of them tripped lightly
the woman, who was young and in her
own way beautiful, and the smaller and
less thoughtful of the two me. THE third
of the party followed with a gravity of
countenance that was quite absurd in
conjunction with his costume. Having
| entered the water they naturally sepa-
rated. The younger man was slender,
graceful, willowy, golden bearded
| blonde. lie seemed to carry the joyous
recollection of some personal triumph.
Come, he cried, reaching out gayly to
the girl. But she drew back, for she
could not swim.
'Noln he said carelessly, and plunged
off, leaving her near the other man. This
other was also fair of complexion, but
his close-shaven hair had the look of
brown velvet, and his large violet eyes
! were fringed with lashes almost black.
| He had stopped to put some water on his
head, and looking up he saw that the
young lady stood alone, her gaze resting
| quietly upon him.
"Shall take you out little farther?"
he asked.
"You look too sober. You might
want to drown me"
He took no notice of the petulance.
"You think / shouldn't look sober,
then"
"I'm sure I think nothing whatever,
Mr.. Baxter. You have relieved me OF
the necessity"
He took step toward her His face
paled. There, in the edge of the ocean,
was an absurd place to show feeling. But
he seemed to forget their surrounding,
and TO see only her dark, uncommon
beauty and flashing eyes.
"Anita, he said, 81 have done moth
ing to merit ridicule. l have been
sincere"
"Oh, yes; but too much sincerity bore,
one at tines
He started; his lips moved, then hC
seemed to remember some resolution an6
no sound issued from his tightly SCI
jaws.
But Anita continued to speak in tn,
same studiously insolent tone. "Why
are we standing here! At least yol
might take me over to the line. Ger
tainly shall have lessons when we go bach
to town. 1t is absurd for one TO feel 81
dependent. And these good swimmer
are always so selfish
He put out his hand.
Come this way, he said.
They made as pretty picture as any o
the couples who had gone down or wer,
going down together.
Some loOkers-on upon the beach sin
gled them out and discussed them.
"The young lady in white and scarlet
with Spanish facel Miss Haskings
Anita Hastings Hush! The mother i
there in the chair. Quite rich. Tn
young man, Ned Baxter; sort of four
teenth cousin; used to be engaged to her
but it is off now. She is TO marry som
one else. ~
Meanwhile the couple had gone on
waist deep. Miss Hastings had grow
more gracious.
go and swim, Ned, - she commanded
with laugh. 'We won't quarrel an.
more.n
"Quarrel2n he repeated. "You thinl
l would quarrel with your If, as yol
have told me, it has been a mistake
our caring for each other, and you reall
love GTifiths, do you think wouldn'